Receiving a university offer is an exciting moment for any student, but for an international applicant the wording of that offer can sometimes create as many questions as it answers. You may have been offered a place on the course you wanted, but the offer is described as "conditional". Another student may already have an "unconditional" offer. Does this mean their application was stronger than yours? Is your place guaranteed? What happens if the condition relates to English and you narrowly miss the required IELTS score? 

For international students hoping to study at a British university, one of the first questions they are likely to ask is what level of English they need to gain admission. University websites usually provide clear entry requirements, often expressed through IELTS scores or other recognised English-language qualifications. A student may discover that their chosen course requires an overall IELTS score of 6.5, for example, and immediately begin preparing to achieve that result. 

For ambitious international students considering studying in the UK, the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge are understandably attractive. Both have outstanding international reputations, centuries of academic history and highly distinctive approaches to undergraduate teaching. They are also two of the most competitive universities in the world to enter. 

For many international students, studying at a British university is far more than an academic decision. It is often a major life transition - one that involves adapting to a new culture, a different education system and an entirely new way of living. 

A Practical Guide for European Learners.